Public Statements

Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. 1960, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014

Floor Speech

Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of this very fair rule which has allowed 172 amendments.

I rise in strong support of the amendment by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), which would accelerate the paced withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, the American people do not want forever wars that now have lasted three or four times longer than World War II. Afghanistan has simply become little more than a gigantic money pit, with President Karzai and his cronies ripping off American taxpayers for billions of dollars. President Karzai has made it very clear that even he wants us out, but, of course, he still wants us to send him our billions. It is long past the time.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, there never should have been a time in the first place for needless wars that keep resulting in the killing and maiming of young American soldiers. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have always been more about money and power than about any real threat to the American people.

William F. Buckley changed his views before he died and came out strongly against the war in Iraq. What he said in 2005 regarding the war in Iraq can be said about Afghanistan today. Mr. Buckley said:

A respect for the power of the United States is engendered by our success in engagements in which we take part. A point is reached when tenacity conveys not steadfastness of purpose, but misapplication of pride.

Mr. Speaker, as other speakers have pointed out before me, the underlying bill calls for a spending of $85 billion, or $7 billion a month, for the war in Afghanistan. That is too much.